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Exposure of free‐ranging capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) to the vaccinia virus
Author(s) -
Antunes João Marcelo Azevedo de Paula,
Borges Iara Apolinário,
Trindade Giliane de Souza,
Kroon Erna Geessien,
Cruvinel Tatiana Morosini de Andrade,
Peres Marina Gea,
Megid Jane
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.13376
Subject(s) - orthopoxvirus , vaccinia , virology , biology , virus , antibody , outbreak , serology , immunology , recombinant dna , biochemistry , gene
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of free‐ranging animals/hunting dogs as sources of infection in the vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission chain. Serological, cell culture and molecular assays were conducted in 56 free‐ranging animals and 22 hunting dogs. ELISA/neutralizing assays showed that two (2.5%) capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ) had anti‐OPV positive antibodies, while all samples tested negative through PCR/cell culture. After being hit by cars on roads, capybaras that exhibited neither clinical signs nor any association with bovine outbreaks had neutralizing antibodies against the Orthopoxvirus , as detected through plaque‐reduction neutralizing tests and ELISA. Evidence exists regarding peridomestic capybaras acting as a source of the virus and serving as a link between wild and urban environments, thus contributing to viral maintenance.